Addison sets Christmas plans

Earlier in the fall, the Addison Village Council determined Christmas would come to Addison at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7. The question that went unanswered at the time was where.

The village council spent nearly 20 minutes at its meeting Monday asking about — and debating — where to have the Christmas tree lighting itself: at the pine tree behind the village hall, or the evergreen on the lot where the former Wayne Gray Elementary stood.

The pine where the tree-lighting ceremony was last year is now on private property, village President Mike Votzke said. The tree behind the village hall is smaller and was lit in previous years by running an extension cord from the hall to the tree, and immediate parking is limited. Concerns were raised by members of the audience Monday regarding the school’s invitation to hold the ceremony at the tree on the school grounds, then adjourn to the high school auditorium for refreshments. The primary concern was that the village tree-lighting ceremony might transition to become a school event.

Votzke said he agreed with that concern.

“I like having it downtown but I don’t want to take away the identity of the town by moving everything to the school,” he said, adding the tree ceremony is one of the few village-run events.

Votzke said the village can have its tree-lighting ceremony, and the school can host its pre- or post-Christmas events that include the Addison Senior Center offering refreshments in the auditorium. Participants would have the option of walking or driving from downtown to the school.

“We’ve never had any trouble before,” said audience member and former village president Walt Dentel. “The band, the Santa Lucia, everyone walked back and forth.”

The village council voted to have the ceremony at the tree behind the village hall and will contact Snyr Electric to bring the electrical connections between the hall and the tree up to code by December.

Votzke said a community Christmas tree-lighting ceremony meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Addison High School auditorium. The public and those interested in participating in the festivities are encouraged to attend, he said.